Motorcycle owners: Insurance question, help plz!

[GooberPHX420]

Hey guys, I have a friend who cant afford a car, but he has a few K he might wanna drop on a decent used bike. The thing is, how does motorcycle insurance work with teenagers? he is 17, 18 in august. He maintains a B avg, I know some insurance companies like that. Also, how will the insurance rates be for him on a bike, as opposed to him having like an early 90's honda?

Any help would be much appreciated!

-Goob

 

[BillGates]

Bike insurance all depends on the kind of bike (Sportbikes or anything with any amount of plastic on it is EXPENSIVE), size of the engine, year of the bike, age and driving record of the driver....

A 17 year old with an average driving record is not going to find any sportbike insurance (full coverage) for under $1000 - but a "standard" bike is usually pretty cheap to insure. Liability only is also super cheap for most bikes.

 

[BillGates]

By the way - I'm 23 next month, drive a 1998 Suzuki TL1000R - basically a street-legal race bike - have 2 tickets on my record which are both off soon, have taken the Motorcycle Safety course, get a 4.0 in college.... The absolute best rate I could get for full coverage with $250 deductibles and high limits of liability was approx $950... If you insure a car through the company you can get a little bit better prices.

Getting married and turning 25 also helps - because both drain almost all of your testosterone and desire to show off - Just kidding....right?

 

[GooberPHX420]

is that an annual rate I assume? and is that the only way they bill, annually? (sorry, extreme noobism here)

 

[BillGates]

That's the annual rate, yes... And a smaller bike would be a much better deal...

I chose to pay with 6 payments spread out - you can pay yearly, bi-annually, quarterly, or monthly - or in my case, every other month.

The payment options all depend on the insurance company but generally they have most of those options.

For me, just liability on a 600 sportbike that's say 5 years old is less than $250.

 

[Instan00dles]

I cant ride my bike yet cause the people who deal out liscences are on strike but I have done an insurance quote with my bike. I am 17 years old and I will be driving a Suzuki GR 650 and it will cost me $3000 for insurance CND. its alot of money condisering I cant drive during the winter.

 

[GooberPHX420]

uhhhhh yikes. thats like ~$2000 american dollars, and that bike isnt even that great, no offense at all, but my friend was looking into an older NINJA or something...sheesh

 

[The Stigenator]

first since you mentioned your friend is a teenager and under 21, he <U>has</U> to take the MSF course (www.msf-usa.org) After he takes that course he has to get his M1 certification. Having a normal C certification wont let you qualify for the motorcycle, you got to get the M1. When you pass the MSF course you get a dmv waiver that lets you take the written test and get the M1 cert.

Now as for the bike, an older 500cc bike will do. Do not go over 500cc cause insurance will spike if its a sports bike. A cruiser you can go upto 750cc. I would suggest a Ninja500R or Suzuki GS500 (the one i have - look signature). The Ninja500R will have a slightly higher insurance cause its got plastic. Also since your buying used you got to make sure the Ninja is well maintained, (valve adjustments are done regularly - most GS500 riders do it regularly).

I must mention though having a bike is sweet, its not practical for carrying stuff etc etc. I would suggest getting a decent helmet (check www.motorcycle-usa.com and under superstore), something with DOT and Snell M2000 rating on it. I prefer the Vega, its cheap and its good, but even HJC has one at that range. You will need gloves and a jacket to keep the wind off you. Preferable leather if not cordura. You will also need some over the ankle boots. Yes you can ride with sneakers but it doesnt provide any ankle protection.
If you plan to ride in the rain you will need a rain suit (about 50 bucks or so).

Riding a bike is no ball game, personally i would suggest your friend getting an older car (may be not a honda but a american car like a buick or something - insurance is cheap on american cars) and then later when he has some driving experience to get a bike. Without driving experience riding a bike is harder, cause there are lots more decisions you got to make when your a rider.

Also when shopping for insurance shop around, check with all companies, geico is who I am going with right now. but there are other companies.